CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

-•PRESLEY•-

Nathan was too busy with a meeting to take me to school, Red had to take me instead.

Normally, Nathan's composure was rock solid, but yesterday with the car accident, I saw a sliver of franticness for the first time. He wouldn't give me much insight of who he thought was behind the attack, but from his expression, there was only one option. The K Blades.

Tomorrow was Saturday, which meant that tensions were already high, not just with the Creeds, but with all the gangs, I would imagine. Tomorrow the gang race would take place at nightfall. Haley had told me that the racing would unfold at a wide, abandoned track that was away from all the city life.

My heart sunk just thinking about Nathan endangering himself with a bunch of street thugs that no doubt wanted to kill him.

Don't worry about him, Presley.

"Earth to Presley," Mrs. Dean waved a hand in front of my face.  "Anyone in there?"

I gave myself a shake and gave her a small her smile. "Just got lost in thought," I said. "What were you saying?"

She sighed. "I was saying you can leave now, buddy," she nudged me. "It's Friday, for Christ's sake! Go have some fun."

I chuckled lightly and got up from my seat in her office. "I'll see you next week, Mrs. Dean," I waved to her.

"Don't party too hard, kiddo!," she hollered at me on my way out.

I wanted to laugh out loud.

I've only been to one party, and I was almost kidnapped by a high profile gang.

I reached into my pocket and took out a mint, then put it in my mouth. When I reached the outside air, I sucked in a chilly breath that made me shiver.

"Where were you at lunch today?," Ross's voice sounded from behind me.

I whipped around and stifled a little gasp. His left cheek was littered with stitches while his hand sported a short cast. He looked horrible.

"What...what happened to you?," I whispered.

He took a step towards me. "Answer my question first."

"I had to retake a test," I said softly, slightly backing away.

His eyes seemed to soften. "Oh," he said, then smiled flirtatiously. "I guess I just missed you too much." He took another step forward.

My cheeks engulfed in flames, I recovered quickly.

"Ross," I said quietly. "How did you get hurt?"

His eyes hardened. "Don't worry about it," he said, then shrugged easily. "I got into a fight with some guys yesterday, no big deal."

He didn't meet my eyes. I sighed and dug into my backpack. "I have something for that. It'll help you feel better," I explained.

He grabbed my hand to stop me from retrieving the healing elixir. "I don't want it," he said, letting go of my hand harshly.

"Are...you sure?," I asked, eyes wide. "That cut doesn't look very nice."

Ross shook his head, he looked almost repulsed. A look of hurt must have flashed through my face because he sighed. "It's not that I don't think it'll work...it's just that, I'm already on a bunch of medicine and I don't know how well that'll mix."

I smiled in understanding.

A car honked its loud horn from behind me. I turned around and located Red's challenger. "Let's go, kid!," he hollered. "We don't have all day."

When I turned back to Ross, he suddenly looked bothered. "I'll see you later," he muttered before speed walking away from me.

Red honked his horn again. I sighed and trudged into the passengers seat.

"Who was that?," Red asked, studying me peculiarly.

"He's just a f-friend of mine," I stuttered, giving him a soft smile that I hoped was convincing.

He raised a brow.

"What?," I whispered.

He shook his head. "Forget it, kid. I just ah, thought I recognized him from somewhere."

That's what Nathan thought too.

I didn't let it bother me. So what if Ross had a popular face? There's no harm in that.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Every gang within a ten mile radius will be there tomorrow. Do you know what that means?," Kyle asked me.

We sat in one of the facilities' meeting rooms with Haley, Alvin and Ally. Nathan was preparing weapons in the armory with Red and Kevin. Apparently, Nathan tasked Kyle with explaining what I was and what I was not allowed to do tomorrow at the gang race.

I shook my head at Kyles question.

He leaned forward. "It means people still want that one million dollar prize for you. The race would be a perfect distraction for them to swipe you right from under our noses."

I gulped and nodded eagerly.

"The boss still wants you to come just in case we need some of your healing, but that doesn't mean you get to talk to the other healers, understand? Talk to no one."

"Oh, ease up on the boy, Ky," Ally said, flipping her golden blonde hair over her shoulder. "He's allowed to have some fun tomorrow too, you know."

Kyle laughed. "Would you like to be the one who explains to Nathan exactly how our star healer was taken from us? Because I'm sure as hell not going to tell him."

Haley rolled her eyes and patted my cheek softly. "Just stick with us and you'll be fine, tomorrow's supposed to be fun, Pres."

I smiled at her and nodded. She grinned and took her hand from my cheek.

"Ky, don't act like you're not excited," Alvin smirked.

Kyle broke out in a grin. "Of course I am, just not in the mood for another gang fight with the Blades," his expression faltered. "We barely made it out alive last time."

Haley and Ally looked at each other nervously, Alvin looked at the ground.

"All right, kid," Kyle sighed. "We clear on tomorrow?"

"Yes," I nodded.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Somehow I found myself in the armory. It was late at night but my eyes just couldn't seem to find rest. I'd never been in the armory before, it was a wide room stocked with an array of guns and knives of different sizes.

The room was vacant of any people except for one particular raven haired boy who was sat on a bench cleaning his guns.

"Hi," I whispered.

Nathan's head snapped up. His eyes briefly skimmed my pajama clad form then turned back to his guns.

"You're not supposed to be up this late, kid," he said, running a cloth over the handle of his pistol.

I made my way over to him. "You are," I pointed out.

He smiled slightly, eyes focused on his weapon. "This is my gang, little one. I can be up whenever I want."

I stood in front of him. "Are you nervous?," I asked quietly. "For tomorrow."

He paused for a moment then resumed his task. He cleared his throat. "I don't want you going tomorrow, Presley."

Something defiant rose up within me. "Well...I'm still going. You can't tell me no, the boss wants me there. " I said quietly.

Nathan stood up so fast, I backed up slightly. He only got closer. "My idiot of a father made a twisted deal behind my back and now, if I don't win tomorrow, you're going to pay the price."

"What are you talking about?," I whispered.

Nathan closed his eyes briefly, then opened them to look at me. "The K Blades get the very worst out of my father," he said, voice low. "Tristin and my father made some sick and very stupid bet that puts you in danger. If I lose, the K Blades get to take you, no questions asked, If I win, we get ten percent of their income every month. It doesn't match up," he scoffed.

My eyes began to water. "But...I don't want to go with them," I shook my head.

"I know that, little one," he said softly, taking a step closer.

Nathan's eyes flicked briefly to my lips, then back up to my eyes that glistened with tears. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. Something dark passed through his expression, then he shook himself off and backed away.

"Don't worry about tomorrow," he rasped. "I don't lose, remember?"

I wiped a tear that had sprinkled down my cheek and smiled softly.

"Go back to bed, kid," he said, sitting back down on the bench. "Long day tomorrow."